What is Moms Across America? Group's report on Girl Scout cookies sparks lawsuit
That's the stated mission of two organizations behind a recent study claiming Girl Scout cookies contain toxic chemicals.
In December, nonprofits Moms Across America and GMOScience published a study that found 100% of tested Girl Scout cookies contain "elevated levels" of aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, and that 13 types of cookies were positive for high levels of glyphosate, a herbicide used to kill weeds.
The study, titled, "Danger in the Dough: Unveiling the Toxic Contaminants in Girl Scout Cookies," has received criticism, as it wasn't published by a scientific journal or peer reviewed. Experts say the study was also of a small sample size − only 25 cookies − and compared heavy metals and glyphosate levels to the Environmental Protection Agency's water safety limits, which aren't applicable for food.
In a Feb. 6 blog post, Girl Scouts of America denounced the study's claims, reassuring customers that, "Girl Scout Cookies are safe to consume" and meet all regulations set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and EPA.
Can you still eat Girl Scout cookies? Here's what to know about risks to consumers
On March 10, a New York woman filed a federal lawsuit against Girl Scouts of America, claiming the organization, in addition to cookie manufacturers Ferrero U.S.A. and Interbake Foods are selling cookies that contain toxins. The woman has since dismissed herself, but New Yorkers Danielle Barbaro and Judy Cholewa have since taken over as plaintiffs.
As the lawsuit unfolds, here's what to know about the organizations behind the Girl Scout cookie study.
Lawsuit: Girl Scouts hit with suit over alleged heavy metals, toxins in its cookies
The study was authored by Michelle Perro, CEO of GMOScience; Zen Honeycutt, founder and executive director of Moms Across America; and Stephanie Seneff, senior research scientist at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.
The three women have a history of targeting GMOs, glyphosate and other toxic chemicals in foods:
Perro describes herself as a veteran pediatrician with more than 40 years of experience in "acute and integrative medicine." She is the co-author of "What's Making our Children Sick?: How Industrial Food Is Causing an Epidemic of Chronic Illness and What Parents (and Doctors) Can Do About It."
In addition to founding Moms Across America, Honeycutt authored a book recounting how her and her family transitioned to an all-organic diet in an effort to avoid GMOs, or genetically-modified organisms.
And Seneff, who holds degrees in biophysics, electrical engineering and computer science, has been an MIT senior research scientist since 2010, she told USA TODAY. She also authored a book arguing that glyphosate is responsible for "debilitating chronic diseases, including autism, liver disease and more."
Perro and Seneff both serve on Moms Across America's advisory board, according to the organization's website.
Jessica Steier, CEO of Vital Statistics Consulting and founder of the podcast "Unbiased Science," has been familiar with Moms Across America for several years, first analyzing a study the organization conducted about glyphosate levels in Banza chickpea pasta in 2024. Vital Statistics Consulting is a data science consultancy that specializes in public health analytics.
Steier told USA TODAY that she became familiar with the Girl Scout cookie study after concerned parents began reaching out with questions.
"From my analysis, Moms Across America consistently presents data in ways that create maximum alarm by misrepresenting statistics, highlighting preliminary research without proper context and fundamentally misunderstanding a basic toxicology principle: the presence of a substance does not automatically indicate risk," Steier said in an email. "The dose makes the poison, and this nuance is consistently absent from their work."
As an example, Steier spoke about the study's glyphosate level claims, which state that the levels in several of the cookies were "334 times higher" than what is harmful to consume.
Steier said when analyzed, "the highest glyphosate level they found (111 parts per billion in Thin Mints) would require a child to consume over 9,000 cookies in a single day to approach even the most conservative safety thresholds."
In response, Honeycutt told USA TODAY that consumers should be "alarmed."
"We hope that rather than attack the messengers, they (Girl Scouts of America) chose to select better ingredients, empower their girls to learn new skills by baking their own organic cookies and be champions for regenerative organic farming."
Established in 2013, Moms Across America is a nonprofit dedicated to advocating against GMOs, through the lens of empowering mothers.
Genetically-modified organisms are plants, animals or microorganisms that have had their DNA changed, according to the FDA. Common ingredients that contain GMOs include cornstarch, corn syrup, corn oil, soybean oil, canola oil and granulated sugar, according to the FDA. Some fresh produce, like potatoes, apples and pink pineapples are also available in GMO varieties. The FDA says that GMOs are safe to eat, as they are tested by the FDA, EPA and U.S. Department of Agriculture before being put on the market.
Honeycutt told USA TODAY that Moms Across America conducts studies and produces data that "shows that our food is contaminated."
The group has previously come under fire for claims it made about other publicly-available food items, with some arguing their claims were misleading or lack context.
On its website, the organization outlines anti-vaccination rhetoric and alternative medications like a "vaccine detox herbal extract."
Honeycutt has been a vocal supporter of U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was a former adviser to the organization, according to the Moms Across America website. Kennedy's office did not respond for comment when contacted by USA TODAY.
GMOScience, founded in 2014, describes itself as "a voice for independent science." The group generates articles, videos and podcasts largely in opposition to GMOs.
Honeycutt and Seneff are both advisors of GMOScience, according to the organization's website.
The Health Research Institute and New Jersey Laboratories sampled the Girl Scout cookies on behalf of Moms Across America and GMOScience.
"Making the invisible visible," welcomes users on the Health Research Institute's website homepage.
Based in Iowa, the Health Research Institute is a nonprofit that focuses on glyphosate testing, specifically in foods, founder John Fagan told USA TODAY. The institute, founded in 2015, employs five-full time scientists, he added.
The Health Research Institute has worked with Moms Across America before. In 2022, Moms Across America released a study analyzing the amount of toxic chemicals found in school lunches, and the Health Research Institute conducted the research.
According to the New Jersey Laboratories website, the lab was founded in 1936, at the time under the name New Jersey Dairy Laboratories. The lab specialized in dairy and food production testing. In the '70s, the lab became New Jersey Laboratories.
New Jersey Laboratories tests products in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, dietary supplement, cosmetic, dairy and food industries, according to its website.
New Jersey Laboratories Chief Commercial Office Rajul Vyas told USA TODAY that the laboratory is unable to discuss the details of the study due to a non-disclosure agreement with Moms Across America, which Honeycutt confirmed. Vyas said the lab signs NDAs with all of its clients.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Moms Across America: Group's Girl Scout cookies report sparked lawsuit
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Newsweek
Millions of New Yorkers Warned Over Health Insurance
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Millions of New Yorkers are at risk of losing their health insurance coverage, Governor Kathy Hochul warned this week as the fallout from President Donald Trump's recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act begins to take shape. Hochul said the legislation would slash $3 billion from New York's health care system, triggering major cuts that could leave more than 2 million residents without their current coverage. Of those, an estimated 1.3 million could lose access to Medicaid because of new eligibility requirements and verification hurdles included in the law. Why It Matters Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law on July 4, with cuts to Medicaid among the legislation's controversial provisions. New York runs one of the largest Medicaid programs in the country, leaving the state particularly vulnerable to the bill. New York Governor Kathy Hochul taking part in the 2025 NYC Pride March along Fifth Avenue, New York, on June 29. New York Governor Kathy Hochul taking part in the 2025 NYC Pride March along Fifth Avenue, New York, on June 29. Anthony Behar/Sipa USA/AP What To Know On Thursday, Hochul convened a Cabinet meeting to outline the sweeping consequences of the newly signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, warning it would leave millions of New Yorkers vulnerable to losing health coverage and food assistance while straining the state's finances for years to come. According to new estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the bill will cut about $1.1 trillion in health care spending and result in 11.8 million people losing Medicaid health insurance over the next decade. One of the most consequential elements of the federal law restricts which immigrant populations qualify for Medicaid coverage under the Essential Plan. Only green card holders and immigrants from a limited list of countries—including Cuba, Haiti and some Pacific Island nations—will remain eligible. In New York, the governor warned, the changes could be especially devastating. The change is expected to strip coverage from about 500,000 immigrants in New York, leaving the state with an estimated $3 billion annual bill if it opts to maintain their insurance. Hochul said the administration was evaluating a potential legislative response in light of a 2001 state court ruling that requires the state to provide Medicaid coverage to some immigrants excluded from federal programs. "We're having discussions now internally, but also will be engaging the leaders of the Legislature during this time," she said. Hochul also warned that the federal health care cuts would hit rural hospitals especially hard. "Most of our state is rural," she said. "If we start closing these hospitals, you'll have to drive great distances—and that's dangerous." Although the governor said her team anticipated some federal cuts—prompting a $400 billion reduction in projected state spending and the downsizing of a planned inflation rebate from $300 million to $200 million—the scope of the new law exceeds what the state had prepared for. Like Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is also set to undergo funding changes. Under the new law, the federal government plans to continue funding SNAP, but states now have to share some of the cost if their payment error rate is 6 percent or higher, beginning in 2028—two years after the next midterm elections. Beginning in October 2027, New York would be required to fund 15 percent of all SNAP benefits—a projected $1.2 billion annual cost. At the same time, the federal government's share would drop from 50 percent to 25 percent. The state would have to pay an additional $36 million annually, while counties and New York City would shoulder an extra $168 million. According to New York officials, up to 3 million residents may see their food benefits jeopardized as a result of the changes. Hochul has also said the bill will cost New York $750 million this year and $3 billion next year alone. What People Are Saying New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a news release on Thursday: "While Republicans in Washington callously slash funding for vital programs across the country, my administration is standing up for New Yorkers to soften the blow of these cuts amidst an affordability crisis. "President Trump's devastating 'Big Ugly Bill' will inflict harm across the state, leaving detrimental gaps in funding and families without the crucial benefits and coverage that they need. New York State remains laser-focused on ensuring New Yorkers have access to resources and support necessary to uplift them and their families." What Happens Next Medicaid's funding changes under the new law are not scheduled to take effect until 2028.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Yahoo
Fidelis Care Food Security Grant Applications Now Open to Providers and Organizations Across New York State
Grants aim to help fund health equity programs that support food security and Food Is Medicine practices LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y., July 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Fidelis Care, a statewide health plan with more than 2.4 million members in New York State and a Centene Corporation company, has opened the application process for its 2025 grants addressing food insecurity. The grants, open to healthcare providers and community-based organizations in New York, aim to fund programs that support food security and Food Is Medicine (FIM) practices. The FIM approach integrates access to nutritious food into healthcare delivery to prevent, manage, or treat diet-related diseases. These programs are increasingly supported by healthcare professionals to improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and address disparities in nutrition and chronic disease management. The United States Department of Agriculture says over 47 million people in the United States struggle to access enough nutritious food. In New York State, over 2.2 million residents, including more than 14 percent of children in the state, are affected. Urban areas like New York City face high demand, while rural regions such as the North Country and Southern Tier reported some of the state's highest rates of need. Suburban communities, often underrepresented in hunger data, also saw growing challenges, particularly among families who don't qualify for federal assistance but still face economic hardship. "The gaps we are seeing in food access really show why health equity programs are so important," said Fidelis Care Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vincent Marchello. "Fidelis Care is pleased to support local groups that make a real difference, especially through Food Is Medicine programs that connect people with the nutritious food they need to stay healthy. These grants are part of our ongoing commitment to making sure that everyone, no matter where they are in New York, can live a healthier life." The Fidelis Care Food Security and Food Is Medicine grant application is available at The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. August 6, 2025. Fidelis Care plans to announce the grant recipients in September in observance of Hunger Action Month. About Fidelis CareFidelis Care is a mission-driven health plan offering quality, affordable coverage for children and adults of all ages and at all stages of life. With more than 2.4 million members statewide, Fidelis Care believes that all New Yorkers should have access to affordable, quality health insurance. Follow us on LinkedIn at Instagram at @fideliscare, and on Facebook at For more information, call Fidelis Care at1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit Media Contact MediaInquiries@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Fidelis Care Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Politico
14-07-2025
- Politico
New York's abortion fund to run out of money
Beat Memo The New York Abortion Access Fund is struggling to keep up with demands as more people from out of state request financial assistance and as the cost of the procedure rises, POLITICO Pro's Maya Kaufman reports. The organization — which pays clinics on behalf of patients who cannot afford an abortion — continues to see rising demand driven by Florida and other southern states since the Supreme Court in 2022 overturned the constitutional right to an abortion. About 34 percent of people who reached out to the fund in 2024 were calling from outside New York, executive director Chelsea Williams-Diggs told POLITICO. That has risen to 38 percent so far this year. At the same time, abortions are getting more expensive. More of the fund's clients are seeking abortions later in pregnancy, which tend to be more medically complex, and therefore costlier, procedures. And only a few clinics in New York City perform abortions after 19 weeks, so even the fund's local clients may face travel costs, Williams-Diggs said. Meanwhile, philanthropic donations have declined since a 'post-Dobbs bump' after the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned the constitutional right to an abortion, Williams-Diggs said. Both the city and the state provide funding, she added, but it comes with strings that make the money difficult and slow to access — so much so that her organization recently took out a $1 million loan to bridge the gap. 'It's catching up to us,' she said. The state Senate directed $1 million to the organization last year through the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Grant Fund, which Gov. Kathy Hochul created in 2022. The fund was not previously accessible to organizations that offer direct patient assistance for abortions. But Williams-Diggs said the money has yet to come in the door, because her organization still has to submit required documentation. Meanwhile, reproductive health advocates are pressing Hochul's administration to make those dollars available for practical support, such as transportation, for people seeking abortions. IN OTHER NEWS: — New York, the home of one of the costliest Medicaid programs in the country, is expected to see virtually every facet of spending face the brunt of deep federal aid cuts,POLITICO's Nick Reisman and Maya Kaufman report. Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul's budget chief warned the state will suffer a $750 million hit this fiscal year due to cuts to the state's Essential Plan that take effect Jan. 1. That amounts to a $3 billion annual cut when the state's new fiscal year starts April 1. 'Nobody is prepared to backfill $3 billion in cuts from Congress,' said Blake Washington, the director of the governor's budget office. 'There's no state in the union that can do that, particularly on a recurring basis.' The state's Essential Plan, which covers roughly 1.6 million low-income New Yorkers who are ineligible for Medicaid, relies on billions of dollars in federal funding that will start drying up in January under the megabill. On top of that, the state will have to spend upwards of $500 million over several years to stand up a system for administering the megabill's new Medicaid work requirements, Washington said. 'We've never seen health care cuts like these,' Democratic Assemblymember Amy Paulin said. 'We've never seen a systemic cut to health care in this country like we're seeing in this federal bill. We can't just tax people in New York and make it up. I don't see how we do that. It's too much money.' ON THE AGENDA: — Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. The NYC Health + Hospitals board of directors' capital committee meets, followed by a meeting of the finance committee. GOT TIPS? Send story ideas and feedback to Maya Kaufman at mkaufman@ and Katelyn Cordero at kcordero@ Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You'll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day's biggest stories. What you may have missed — Fatal overdoses in New York City continued trending downward during the third quarter of 2024, hitting their lowest level since early 2020, according to provisional data released last week. The new data shows 498 people died from an overdose during that three-month period, down from 564 deaths in the prior quarter and 647 in the quarter before that. It is the fewest overdose deaths in any quarter since the first three months of 2020, when the city tallied 456 fatal overdoses. 'For too long, opioid overdoses have ripped families and communities apart, but there is light on the horizon with opioid overdose deaths citywide seeing their lowest numbers in five years,' Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement. 'We are committed to maintaining this downward trend by continuing to invest in the programs and treatments that support those who are struggling.' ODDS AND ENDS NOW WE KNOW — Twenty New York hospitals lost obstetric services between 2010 and 2022, per a new analysis. TODAY'S TIP — Feeling burnt out? Ashwagandha could help. STUDY THIS — Via NBC: A large new study found a link between premenstrual disorders and cardiovascular disease. WHAT WE'RE READING — Why are mothers in New York having so many c-sections? (Times Union) — State legislators across the U.S. are weighing laws around menopause care and training for doctors. (CNN) — FDA offers to trade faster drug reviews for lower U.S. prices. (Bloomberg) Around POLITICO — Big Pharma and labor make for strange bedfellows in fight against California drug pricing bill, Rachel Bluth reports. — How hospitals could still escape the megabill's Medicaid cuts, via Robert King, Amanda Chu and David Lim. MISSED A ROUNDUP? Get caught up on the New York Health Care Newsletter.
